North Macedonia

North Macedonia's national team represents one of Europe's newest footballing nations, formed after the breakup of the former Yugoslav federation. A modest program by continental standards, the team achieved its greatest moment reaching a first major tournament in the 2020s. Longtime captain Goran Pandev became the face of the program's rise, with the squad regularly punching above expectations in qualifying campaigns.

The Football Federation of North Macedonia was established in 1991 following the country's independence, becoming a separate FIFA and UEFA member by 1994. The program's breakthrough came at Euro 2020 (played in 2021), the nation's first-ever major tournament appearance, where Goran Pandev scored an equalizer against Austria. Though winless in the group stage, qualification itself stood as the defining achievement in the federation's short history.